Packaging for products and machine for manufacturing such packaging

ABSTRACT

The packaging for products comprises a string of containers (1), each container (1) comprising a closure element (3).The machine for manufacturing said packaging comprises an opener (6) for forming a space to be filled with a product; a dosing nozzle (8) for dosing the product into said space; a feeder (5) of closure elements (3); welding jaws (9) for welding the closure element (3) and edges defining a container (1) on the packaging; and a cutting unit (11) for separating the containers (1) from the packaging, forming a string of containers (1).A new type of packaging is achieved, which combines the advantages of an envelope-type packaging with packaging with a closure element and, in addition, allows to be sold in the form of a string.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a packaging for products and a machinefor manufacturing such packaging.

Background to the Invention

Different types of packaging are available on the market, each adaptedto a specific and determined use.

For example, there are known envelope-type packs which do not includeany type of closure, and which open through a weakened area of theenvelope. Such envelope-type packs can be manufactured and soldseparately or as a string of several packs.

A packaging commonly referred to as “Doypack®” is also known on themarket, which is usually used as a single-use packaging for granular orliquid products and has the characteristic that it includes a closureelement.

This closure element is usually of the type known as a “Zipper®”, whichis commonly used for powder, granular, hygiene, cleaning or foodproducts. This type of closure is a snap closure along a line.

In addition, this type of packaging may, if desired, comprise a nozzleformed in the packaging itself and closed by a cap.

In order to achieve maximum packaging productivity, automatic packagingmachines are used, comprising a dosing station for dosing a product intothe packaging and a sealing station where the filled container issealed.

When using “Doypack0” containers, the presence of the closure elementmakes the packaging operation more difficult, and it is always necessaryto deliver the containers to the machine with the closure element open,with the consequent problem that this entails, since during productionthe closure element can remain closed.

However, there is no known envelope-type packaging on the market thathas a closure element and is provided to users in a string.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an objective of the present invention is to provide a newpackaging which can be manufactured forming a string of containers andwhich has a closure element for each container.

With the packaging and the machine of the invention, the aforementioneddisadvantages are solved, with other advantages that will be describedbelow.

According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to apackaging for products, comprising a string of containers, wherein eachof said containers comprises a closure element.

According to a preferred embodiment, the closure element is a cap, forexample a screw cap.

Advantageously, these containers are separated from each other bydie-cut lines.

In addition, each container is preferably formed from a film thatdefines an envelope, and the closure elements are welded to said film.

According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a machinefor manufacturing packaging for products as described above, comprising:

-   an opener to form a space to be filled with a product;-   a dosing nozzle for dosing the product into said space;-   a sealing element feeder;-   welding jaws for welding the closure element and edges defining a    container in the packaging; and-   a cutting unit that separates the containers from the packaging,    forming a string of containers.

According to a preferred embodiment, the packaging is formed from a filmdefining the plurality of containers, and said opener beinglongitudinally movable along said film.

Furthermore, said dosing nozzle is advantageously movable between aninitial position and a dosing position, and said closure element feederis movable between an initial position and a feeding position.

According to a preferred embodiment, the closure element feedercomprises a clamp that can be placed in a retaining position, where itretains the closure elements, or in a releasing position, where itallows the release of one of the closure elements.

In addition, the welding jaws are advantageously movable between an openand a closed position, the welding being carried out in the closedposition.

The present invention provides a new type of packaging, which combinesthe advantages of envelope-type packaging with packaging provided with aclosure element and, in addition, allows it to be marketed in the formof a string.

In addition, the machine according to the present invention allows thepackaging to be manufactured on a single machine with high productivity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of what has been explained above, drawingsare included in which, schematically and only as a non-limiting example,a practical case of embodiment is shown.

FIG. 1 is a frontal view of a packaging according to the presentinvention, forming a string of containers for a product joined togetherby die-cut lines; and

FIGS. 2 to 9 are perspective views of the manufacturing steps of thepackaging according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIG. 1 , the packaging according to the present inventioncomprises a plurality of containers 1 in the form of an envelope forminga string, each container 1 being separated by a die-cut line 2 allowingthe containers 1 to be separated from each other before use.

Each container 1 comprises a closure element 3, such as a cap, whichallows the container 1 to be opened and closed a plurality of times.

Each container 1 is formed from a film 4, which is folded lengthwise,and its side edges and top are welded to said closure element 3, as willbe explained below to form said containers 1.

The method for manufacturing this packaging with the machine accordingto the present invention is described below.

First, the film 4 is placed folded lengthwise into two parts, as shownin FIG. 1 .

In this position, between the film 4 there is an opener 6 and a bar 7,which separates the two parts of the film 4 from each other.

The machine comprises a nozzle 8, which will subsequently deliver aproduct into the containers 1 of the packaging, and welding jaws 9 whichwill weld the film 4 to form the containers 1.

In the position shown in FIG. 2 , the nozzle 8 is in the standbyposition, i.e. in its raised position, and the welding jaws 9 are open.

The machine further comprises a feeder 5 provided with a clamp 10, whichfeeds caps for its placement, which in FIG. 2 is also in its raisedstandby position.

In FIG. 3 , the opener 6 moves forward, the welding jaws 9 start toclose, the nozzle 8 starts to descend and the clamp 10 holds a cap 3.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4 , the nozzle 8 is inserted between the opener 6to start dosing the product and a feeder flap 5 is lowered, the clamp 10holding a cap 3.

In the position shown in FIG. 5 , the nozzle 8 doses the product and theclamp 10 lowers the cap 3. At the same time, the feeder flap 5 closes toprevent the next cap 3 from falling.

As shown in FIG. 6 , in the next stage, the clamp 10 places the cap 3 inthe final position, just above the film 4. In addition, the welding jaws9 approach each other in this area, the nozzle 8 rises after dosing andthe opener 6 returns to its starting position.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7 , the welding jaws 9 are closed, welding thecap 3 to the film 4 and making the welds that form the envelope-shapedcontainer 1. Once the welding has been completed, the clamp 10 is openedby releasing the cap 3, which will be held in position, and the weldingjaws 9 begin to open.

As shown in FIG. 8 , the clamp 10 then reaches its initial position toclamp another cap 3 and the welding jaws 9 open to their initialposition, ending a cycle.

In this position, the machine moves one step forward to start the nextcycle, which will be carried out in the same way as described above.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9 , the machine according to the presentinvention comprises a cutting unit 11, which has the function of makingthe die-cut lines 2 separating the containers 1 of a string from eachother and, when manufacturing a string packaging of a suitable number ofcontainers 1, such as, for example, 8, 10 or 12 containers, cuts thefilm to separate two adjacent strings from each other.

Although reference has been made to a specific embodiment of theinvention, it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that thepackaging and machine described are susceptible to numerous variationsand modifications, and that all the details mentioned can be replaced bytechnically equivalent ones, without departing from the scope ofprotection defined by the appended claims.

1. A packaging for products, comprising: a string of containers; whereineach of said containers comprises a closure element .
 2. The packagingfor products according to claim 1, wherein said closure element is acap.
 3. The packaging for products according to claim 1, wherein saidcontainers are separated from each other by die-cut lines.
 4. Thepackaging for products according to claim 1, wherein each container isformed from a film defining an envelope.
 5. The packaging for productsaccording to claim 4, wherein the closure elements are welded to saidfilm.
 6. A machine for manufacturing a packaging for productscomprising: an opener to form a space to be filled with a product of theproducts; a dosing nozzle for dosing the product into said space; afeeder of a plurality of closure elements; welding jaws for welding aclosure element of the plurality of closure elements and edges defininga container on the packaging; and a cutting unit which separates thecontainers from the packaging, forming a string of containers; whereinthe packaging for the products comprises the string of containers; andwherein each of said containers comprises a closure element of theplurality of closure elements.
 7. The machine for manufacturing thepackaging according to claim 6, wherein the packaging is formed from afilm defining the plurality of containers and said opener islongitudinally movable along said film.
 8. The machine for manufacturingthe packaging according to claim 6, wherein said dosing nozzle ismovable between an initial position and a dosing position.
 9. Themachine for manufacturing the packaging according to claim 6, whereinthe feeder of the plurality of closure elements is movable between aninitial position and a feeding position.
 10. The machine formanufacturing the packaging according to claim 6 , wherein the feeder ofthe plurality of closure elements comprises a clamp which can be placedin a retaining position, where it retains the plurality of closureelements , or in a releasing position, where it allows the release ofone of the plurality of closure elements .
 11. The machine formanufacturing the packaging according to claim 6, wherein the weldingjaws are movable between an open position and a closed position, thewelding being carried out in the closed position.